Friday, January 23, 2015

December Florida Panhandle Birding: Part III

The clock was ticking with so much to see in so little time during an annual trip to the Florida panhandle with bud Tom Obrock in the 2014/2015 winter season.

The White-breasted Nuthatch above (image 1) was photographed at Tall Timbers Research Station in December 2014.

Our final full day in the panhandle would start with a trek to Tall Timbers Research Station. Tom and I walked extensively, with the venue ultimately leaving too much left unexplored. A lifer for me here was added with a White-breasted Nuthatch.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker above (image 2) was photographed at Tall Timbers Research Station in December 2014.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 3) was photographed at Tall Timbers Research Station in December 2014.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above (image 4) was photographed at Tall Timbers Research Station in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at Tall Timbers Research Station in December 2014.

Tom Obrock above (image 6) was photographed at Tall Timbers Research Station in December 2014.

The Canada Goose above (image 7) was photographed along Biltmore Avenue in Tallahassee in December 2014.

Tom was the navigator on the trip for best birding, and led us next to Snow Goose and Canada Goose in the Tallahassee area at Biltmore Road.

The Canada Goose above (image 8) was photographed along Biltmore Avenue in Tallahassee in December 2014.

The Snow Goose above (image 9) was photographed along Biltmore Avenue in Tallahassee in December 2014.

The Ruddy Duck with Canada Goose above (image 10) was photographed along Biltmore Avenue in Tallahassee in December 2014.

The American Wigeon with Gadwall above (image 11) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

In time the weather offered improved light for better photography and Tom gave no objection to return for additional observations at St. Marks NWR.

The American Wigeon above (image 12) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon with Gadwall above (image 11) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon with Gadwall above (image 12) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 13) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Coot above (image 14) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Gadwall above (image 15) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon above (image 16) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Gadwall with American Wigeon above (image 17) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon above (image 16) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon above (image 17) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Redhead above (image 18) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon with American Coot above (image 19) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Ring-necked Duck above (image 20) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon above (image 21) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The male Redhead chasing female Redhead above (image 22) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Redhead above (image 23) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Redhead above (image 24) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Ruddy Duck above (image 25) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Canvasback with Redhead, American Coot, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Duck above (image 26) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon above (image 27) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Canvasback above (image 28) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Redhead above (image 29) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Ruddy Duck with Redhead and Pied-billed Grebe above (image 30) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Little Blue Heron with Tricolored Heron above (image 31) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron with Common Gallinule, and American Coot above (image 32) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The European Starling above (image 33) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Least Sandpiper above (image 34) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 35) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Western Sandpiper above (image 36) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 37) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Avocet above (image 38) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Avocet above (image 39) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Avocet above (image 40) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Avocet above (image 41) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Avocet above (image 42) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The shorebirds above (image 43) were photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Snowy Egret above (image 44) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Greater Yellowlegs above (image 45) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 46) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker above (image 47) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

While driving south and home along Route 65 we passed several Great Florida Birding Trail sites stopping at a couple of them. One of the more enjoyable times was at Apalachicola River WEA: Bloody Bluff Tract where birds were seen similar to those closer to home at Babcock/ Webb WMA.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker above (image 48) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker with prey above (image 49) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker above (image 50) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

There are many remarkable venues along the Great Florida Birding Trail. At this point in the journey, Tom and I were in the Pitcher Plant and Peregrine Cluster as it is known. These venues are not best represented as I had originally intended.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 51) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 52) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

The Brown-headed Nuthatch above (image 53) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker above (image 54) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 55) was photographed at Apalachicola River Wildlife Environmental Area: Bloody Bluff Tract in December 2014.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 56) was photographed at Apalachicola Regional Airport in December 2014.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 57) was photographed at Apalachicola Regional Airport in December 2014.

The Eastern Towhee above (image 58) was photographed at Apalachicola Regional Airport in December 2014.

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet above (image 59) was photographed at Apalachicola Regional Airport in December 2014.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 60) was photographed at Apalachicola Regional Airport in December 2014.

The sunrise above (image 61) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The flock above (image 62) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher above (image 63) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Ash-throated Flycatcher above (image 64) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 65) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The scene above (image 66) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 67) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 68) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Palm Warbler above (image 69) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher above (image 70) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 71) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Anhinga above (image 72) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Northern Harrier above (image 73) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 74) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

The Bobcat above (image 75) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

This trip will always be a reminder to me that it needs to be repeated in the future.

The Bobcat above (image 76) was photographed at Lake Apopka Restoration Area: North Shore in December 2014.

# 13 ...I've never seen a teal wing bird before...how unique....#. 23...neat picture of a redhead...# 42... American avocet....I loved the muddy foot in the air!I would very much like to see a baby caracara...is there anywhere here in swFlorida I would be able to see one?Thanks Bob for your great pictures!Adele !

Thank you, Adele. The mud on the feet of the avocet had me thinking about the added weight to the bird. Certainly no worse than a good meal impacting flight. This series on the panhandle has me running late with reporting. There have been three visits to Church Road since my return with images of caracara to be considered for inclusion here. On one of the visits to Church Road, an attempt at copulation was observed. I remember pressing the shutter button, but not the day of the event at this point. So much as a baby caracara, there is a no greater prospect that I know of to see one than at Church Road.